The Quezon City government has identified over 4,000 poor families living near waterways as their priority for relocation next year.
The relocation will also include those indigents living near dangerous roads and are in peril of being hit by vehicles.
Of the total 4,228 informal settler families, 2,235 are located near creeks and waterways, according to urban poor affairs office chief Ramon Asprer.
Some 2,000 poor families living on road right-of-ways and are vulnerable to being hit by vehicles will be given priority in the relocation program next year.
The relocation is on orders of Mayor Herbert Bautista, who is eyeing the transfer of informal settlers living in danger areas like sidewalks, roadways, waterways, under transmission lines and water pipelines.
This is with the recent signing of an ordinance on a 0.05 percent socialized housing tax which is expected to generate funds for socialized housing projects.
“The problem of poverty and informal settlements in Quezon City is huge. But, we can help make this challenge manageable through the pathways of collaboration and teamwork among ourselves,” Bautista said.
Transfer sites
The families will be relocated at Site 4, Southville 8 B in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal; IKI Southville 8-C in Rodriguez, Rizal, and Towerville Phase 6 at Barangay Gaya-Gaya in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
The urban poor affairs office said it has transferred around 1,587 indigent families in the three resettlement sites as designated by the National Housing Authority.
The city government said it is offering priority in the relocation program to 850 underprivileged families at the Calamiong Creek at Barangay Bagong Silangan, which has been the cause of flooding during heavy rains.
Other areas up for relocation are: San Juan River in Barangay Damayang Lagi, Timex in Barangay Santa Cruz, Nissan in Barangay Tatalon, Lagarian Creek in Barangay Obrero;
Ermitanyo Creek in Barangay Mariana, Abra Creek in Barangay Ramon Magsaysay, Road 5 Creek in Proj. 6, Araneta Creek in Barangay Masambong, Creekside in Barangay E. Rodriguez; Dario Creek in Barangay Bahay Toro, Diliman Creek in Barangay Roxas and SSS Tullahan Creek in Barangay North Fairview.
The informal settler families occupying road right-of-ways to be relocated are along: BIR Road, Barangay Central; Cazrdiz Street, Barangay Tatalon; Liwanag and Pook dela Paz Streets, Barangay Old Balara; Pansol center island, Barangay Pansol; Bernardo Park in Barangay Kamuning, NIA Road near the Postal Office in Barangay Pinyahan; Araneta Avenue, Barangay Manresa; Along Sto. Domingo and Mauban Streets, Barangay Manresa; and Sto. Domingo Street at Barangay Manresa, will also be included in the priority list.